Old teddy of unknown origins.

by John Illingworth
(Durham, UK)

I am looking for help finding as much information as possible out about my 1961 teddy bear.

He was bought for me as a gift as a new born baby by my aunt who just left us this year. He has therefore been part of my life since the day I was born. I would love to know something about him, even just a manufacturer.
As you can see he is threadbare but I would never part with him, which is probably just as well as I can’t imagine he is worth very much in his loved out state.
We have just dragged him out of his home in the loft with our own children’s old teddy’s for a photo shoot with the latest grandchild.
He has course stuffing which feels hard and compacted now, and when compared with modern teddy’s, such as jellycat, it is amazing kids loved them so much.
The eyes are glass (or glass like and seem to be stitched in place like a shank button but could be wired in place. I didn’t want to pull at him and risk damage.
His nose a hard plastic, and looks like a dogs nose.
He has a keyhole in his back for winding up his internal music box. Unfortunately I can’t remember the tune and I think it was over tightened many many moons ago. I keep meaning to have a go to see if I can release the spring without dismantling him but I guess that is a vain hope. Maybe imagination is best and my memory seems to think it was a baby lullaby.
As I touched on before, the stuffing is course. It maybe horse hair but to me it seems even courser than that. It looks a
Bit similar to shreds of wood but not wood. You can tell I am an expert in these matters.
He is clearly not safe by modern standards but I’m still here. That said he won’t be going to the grandson for both their safety. The general look of him is one I have not seen elsewhere so my curiosity regarding his origins and history, the company that made him (does it still exist) and what he is meant to be if not a bear remains strong.
I hope someone knows more than I do and is happy to share. It would be greatly appreciated by this old sentimental duffer. Thank you.

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